Appears In
Far from home: ISU through the eyes of an international student
Connecting Redbirds: Become involved with an alumni network
Pum-King: Passionate pursuit reaps rewards
History in her hands: Alumna collects, protects national treasures
National contender: Volleyball graduate nominee for top NCAA honor
Redbird legacy: 3 siblings create family tradition at ISU
How we met: Ada Klopfenstein and Jerry Christensen
ISU Hall of Fame 2016 inductees honored
Freshman standout in national spotlight
Inside look: Meat science lab
Fund drive underway
Loyal Redbird couple Homecoming royalty
Where are they now? Dianne Ashby
Shakespeare scholarship helps ISU student work toward dream
Pause for applause
Deadline nears for scholarship search
Power of one: Alumna invests in future generation
Redbird runner Aisha Praught makes Olympic debut
Students making pathways to solar future
Business alum employs his education, passions at Alamo II
To the Editor,
I enjoyed the article about WGLT and its history (May 2016). Ben Paxton hired me in 1973 during my freshman year. He gave me a job as an engineer and on-air personality.
He brought me along in management thinking, and I did my directed project in broadcast management. He helped me to think outside the box. Don’t do the same old thing, find or build a new format.
For the senior year project, I formatted an all-sports station, radio and television together, for a 5 a.m.-midnight broadcast. It featured sports in Central Illinois and pro sports broadcasts when available. We sold time to advertisers in the area.
Ben thought it a good business idea and gave me a perfect score for my senior year. I beat ESPN’s start by two years (TV) and by 10 (radio). Thank you for the guidance, Ben. May you rest in peace.
John Volpe ’77
To the Editor,
I was delighted to read the article Exceptional English niche (May 2016). As a sophomore special education major, I took a class in children’s lit with Verna Hoyman. She convinced us that if teachers used children’s lit properly, we could change the world. I still remember her animated reading of Caps for Sale.
When I went back to ISNU to get my master’s degree in 1967, I took every children’s lit class available. Taimi Ranta was my thesis advisor. Now when my granddaughters and I dramatize Caps for Sale or make Chicken Soup with Rice or sponge-paint to copy Swimmy pictures, I remember dear Miss Hoyman. I am grateful for those wonderful classes in children’s literature. They truly changed my life.
Nancy (Rose) Wissinger ’64, M.S. ’67
